Hello. When you plug headphones into the laptop's audio port, does the left side sound normal? If so then could well be an issue with the left speaker. If still under warranty contact tech support to schedule a repair.

Hi @tripleb1,

Make sure the BIOS is up to date, you can also reinstall the audio driver. 

Do as @Jim Coates suggested and let me know the result. 

I've got the same issue on my Alienware R4 17' too!

BIOS - up to date

Audio- up to date

ALIENWARE R4 17'

i7 6820HK

Nvidia 1070- 7GB

1000 GB HDD (7200RPM) +256 SSD

@Alienware-Eimy exactly the same issue on the left speaker. 

I've tried 5 times clean format + installation of windows 10 home & pro (1703 & 1709)...

I've tried updating bios, all the drivers nothing works...

I've also sent it to the local support center here in Macedonia (Europe) they changed the speaker... still the same problem. I am pretty sure that this is a software problem exactly while playing .wav files it starts more n more distortion.

NOTE: Every-time after clean format + windows installation (while no drivers installed) no problems with the speakers I couldn't hear any distortion... At the moment that I've installed the drivers it started the same story... 

Hi @ArdiOrion,

The exact same issue?

Try the steps mentioned above and let me know!

You can uninstall the Sound Center or the Realtek driver and just try with the Windows driver, if it works, you can leave it like that.  

no it still makes the same problem! I have no idea what to do 

Update the firmware of your system. Reinstall the audio drivers.

If the issue still persists then you need to get the Dell technicians to check the audio hardware of your device.

I hope that your system is still within the warranty period.

Regards.